About the Lahontan Cutthroat - The Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi) is the largest cutthroat trout species and is the state fish of Nevada. Although Lahontan cutthroat trout (LCT) stand little chance of surviving for long in Lake Tahoe, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) planted LCT instead of rainbow trout on the lake's Nevada shore in summer 2011. 1996), It is a remnant of ancient Lake Lahontan that once covered most of the Great Basin. Today, Lahontan cutthroat trout are struggling to survive. The present distribution is limited to just a few lakes and streams in and closely surrounding its historic range (Northern Nevada, Southeast Oregon and Northeastern California). They depend on a keen sense of sight to locate and consume their prey. A tagged Lahontan cutthroat trout in Glen Alpine Creek in the Lake Tahoe Basin is documented by a U.S. FISHBIO / Conservation / August 7, 2019. Spawning takes place in April through early July, with most Lahontan Cutthroat Trout moving up into tributaries of lakes and rivers to breed. The Recovery Plan for Lahontan cutthroat trout was approved on January 30, 1995. Known as fierce predators and opportunistic feeders, Lahontans feed on fish and insects. Commercial fisherman were shipping and marketing these fish as far away as San Francisco. It is one of the 14 recognized subspecies of cutthroat. Unlike cutthroat trout, lake trout do not move up tributary streams to spawn, but spawn in the lake making them unavailable to many terrestrial predators … The Lahontan Cutthroat Trout is one of the largest Cutthroat Species and the state fish of Nevada. Walker Lake is a terminal lake (lake with no outlet) that is fed by the Walker River with its headwaters in the Sierra Nevada (California). A status review in 2009 found that Lahontan Cutthroat Trout still meets the definition of threatened and no change in listing status was recommended. While, remaining a predator in larger remnant lakes where prey fish continued to flourish. Paiute Cutthroat Trout, which are typically found in small high elevation streams, rarely exceed 25 cm FL. They mainly prey on aquatic and terrestrial insects, but as they get bigger, they become piscivorous, preferring a fish diet. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist. Inland Cutthroat Trout reach sexual maturity in 2-4 years. Lahontan Cutthroat Trout were once the dominant apex predator in many lakes of the Lahontan drainage (Moyle et al. Known as fierce predators and opportunistic feeders, Lahontans feed on fish and insects. Native stream fish are even smaller. Photo by Brian La Rue The Lahontan cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi) is the largest growing trout native to North America, with early settlers around Nevada’s Pyramid Lake reporting fish up to 60 pounds. Native stream fish are even smaller. An important Great Basin ecosystem, the Lower Truckee River once provided connectivity between the saline waters of Pyramid Lake and ultra-oligotrophic waters of Lake Tahoe which once yielded Lahontan cutthroat trout (LCT) greater than thirty pounds. Lahontan cutthroat trout can vary greatly in color. The story of Lahontan cutthroat trout is one of loss and redemption. Male cutthroat trout use body signals when trying to court females for spawning (Elliott, 2005). Trophic Ecology of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout: Historical Predator–Prey Interaction Supports Native Apex Predator in a Unique Desert Lake Predators. Nevada's major lakes include Walker Lake, Lake Tahoe, Lake Mojave, Lake Mead and Pyramid Lake. There is no designated critical habitat for Lahontan cutthroat trout. Angler Brian Strang landed this gorgeous cutthroat last year on Pyramid Lake. Lahontan cutthroat trout can vary greatly in color. They’re the subject of massive conservation efforts, with restoration work happening from Soda Butte Creek in Yellowstone to tiny headwater streams in Colorado. These fish are endemic to rivers, lakes, and streams in northern Nevada, eastern California, and southern Oregon, but are now found in just a fraction of their historic range. Listed as federally threatened. These days, most anglers are aware of the cutthroat, and a good majority understand why they’re so important to Western fisheries. Fish are large, up to 39 inches and a moderately long-lived predator of chub, suckers and other fish. Today, Lahontan cutthroat trout are struggling to survive. It has been demonstrated that trout use chemical cues to re-locate natal streams for spawning. Since the early 1950’s, the Lahontan cutthroat trout (LCT) fishery was maintained only through stocking. Lake fish generally come from hatcheries and weigh only five to eight pounds at maturity. Lahontan cutthroat trout are opportunistic feeders. A predation refuge allowed Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri and Rainbow Trout O. mykiss to coexist with Lake Trout Salvelinus …